System and method for acquisition management of subject position information

ABSTRACT

A system and method for acquisition management of subject position information that utilizes radio frequency identification (RF ID) to store position information in position tags. Tag programmers receive position information from external positioning systems, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), from manual inputs, such as keypads, or other tag programmers. The tag programmers program each position tag with the received position information. Both the tag programmers and the position tags can be portable or fixed. Implementations include portable tag programmers and fixed position tags for subject position guidance, and portable tag programmers for collection sample labeling. Other implementations include fixed tag programmers and portable position tags for subject route recordation. Position tags can contain other associated information such as destination address of an affixed subject for subject routing.

STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST

This invention was made with government support under ContractDE-AC0676RLO1830 awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy. Thegovernment has certain rights in this invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to systems and methods associated withsubject position information and more particularly to acquisitionmanagement of subject position information.

2. Description of the Related Art

Systems and methods for acquisition management of subject positioninformation conventionally have wide application in daily commerce.These conventional systems include recordation of prior positionsoccupied, identification of present position, and guidance regardingfuture positions of a subject. Implementation details vary according tothe particular conventional system.

Technology of the conventional systems can include optical, magnetic, orvisual scanning of a subject, a subject's printed address, or a track ofa subject's intended path. These approaches generally require closeproximity, predetermined orientation, and high visibility of the subjectto the system, inflexible plans for subject position guidance, manualintervention with recordation, identification, and guidance, and otherperformance reducing requirements. Conventional integration of therecordation, identification, and guidance functions can also includerequirements, that may increase weight, size, and cost of the systemsinvolved.

Other conventional systems use external reference systems, such as theGlobal Positioning System (GPS) managed by the United States Departmentof Defense, to provide position reference data. Unfortunately, theseexternal reference systems are not always as useful as hoped due, inpart, to problems related to signal interference, such as found insidebuildings and geological structures, and less than sufficient resolutionof subject position provided by the external reference system.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosed embodiments of the invention are directed to acquisitionmanagement of subject position information. In one embodiment, aposition tag is provided having a memory configured to store positioninformation, at least one radio frequency antenna, and a receivercircuit coupled to the at least one radio frequency antenna. Thereceiver is configured to receive control signals and position requestsignals via the at least one radio frequency antenna, and to sendsignals containing position information via the at least one radiofrequency antenna responsive to the position request signals. The memoryis configured to store position information in response to the controlsignals and to recall position information in response to the positionrequest signals.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a position tagprogrammer is provided having at least one radio frequency antenna, areceiver configured to receive position information radio signals froman external position reference system via the at least one radiofrequency antenna, and a tag program transmitter coupled to thereceiver. The tag programmer transmitter is configured to transmitposition information control signals via the at least one radiofrequency antenna to a position tag for storage in the position tag ofthe position information received from the external position referencesystem.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention, a positiontag reader is provided having at least one radio frequency antenna, atransmitter coupled to the at least one radio frequency antenna andconfigured to transmit a position information request signal to aposition tag via the at least one radio frequency antenna, and areceiver coupled to the at least one radio frequency antenna. Thereceiver is configured to receive a signal containing positioninformation from the position tag requested through the positioninformation request signal sent by the transmitter to the position tag.

In accordance with one of the method embodiments of the presentinvention, a method of programming a radio frequency identification(RFID) tag is provided including receiving position information from anexternal positioning system, and sending control instructions and theposition information via radio signals to the RFID tag to store theposition information in the RFID tag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a position acquisition managementsystem using RFID devices in accordance with an implementation of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing additional detail of a positiontag shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an implementation of a portableprogrammer system in operation with an external positioning system and asingle position tag.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an implementation of a stationaryprogrammer system in operation with the portable programmer system asshown in FIG. 3 and a multiple position tag.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing operational detail of animplementation of a portable programmer with single position tags asused in conjunction with sample collection.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing operational detail of animplementation of a portable programmer with single position tags asused in conjunction with position guidance.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing operational detail of animplementation of a stationary programmer with a multiple position tagas used in conjunction with route recordation.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing operational detail of animplementation of a router network for a subject with an affixedaddressed tag as used in conjunction with position guidance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Implementations of a system and method for acquisition management ofsubject position information are described herein. The positionacquisition management system uniquely applies radio frequencytechnology to challenges involved with recordation of prior positionsoccupied, identification of present position, and guidance regardingfuture positions of a subject. Radio frequency identification (RFID)tags, whose general use is known in the art, are uniquely used to storeand retrieve position information of designated subjects at givenmoments of subject travel.

Some implementations will program position tags with predeterminedarchitectural, geological, geographical, or other position informationto be later used as position references to assist in guiding travel ofusers, robots, vehicles, or other subjects. Other implementations useposition tags configured to store multiple position identifications torecord information regarding routes taken by given subjects. In certainimplementations, addressed position tags are attached to subjects toindicate destination information for delivery of the subjects. Theseaddressed position tags can contain other information such asidentification of the origination, sender, and receiver of the subjects.Implementations can use portable programmers to program position tagswith position information including that obtained from externalpositioning systems such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) managedby the Department of Defense. Stationary programmers can be used toprogram position tags, such as with route recordation, as the positiontags pass pre-designated positions.

As shown in FIG. 1, a basic RFID system 10 includes two components: aninterrogator or reader 12, and a transponder (commonly called an RF tag)14. The interrogator 12 and RF tag 14 include respective antennas 16,18. In operation, the interrogator 12 transmits by a transmittercomponent (not shown) through its antenna 16 a radio frequencyinterrogation signal 20 to the antenna 18 of the RF tag 14. In responseto receiving the interrogation signal 20, the RF tag 14 produces amodulated response signal 22 that is transmitted back to theinterrogator 12 through the tag antenna 18 by a process known ascontinuous wave backscatter and is received by a receiver component (notshown) of the interrogator 12.

The substantial advantage of RFID systems is the non-contact,non-line-of-sight capability of the technology. The interrogator 12emits the interrogation signal 20 with a range from one inch to onehundred feet or more, depending upon its power output and the radiofrequency used. Tags can be read through a variety of substances such asdispersions, fog, ice, paint, dirt, and other visually andenvironmentally challenging conditions where bar codes or otheroptically-read technologies would be useless. RF tags can also be readat high speeds, in most cases responding in less than one hundredmilliseconds.

RF tags are divided into three main categories: Beam-powered passivetags, battery-powered semi-passive tags, and active tags. Each operatesin different ways.

The beam-powered RFID tag is often referred to as a passive devicebecause it derives the energy needed for its operation from theinterrogation signal beamed at it. The tag rectifies the field andchanges the reflective characteristics of the tag itself, creating achange in reflectivity that is seen at the interrogator. Thebattery-powered semi-passive RFID tag operates in a similar fashion,modulating its RF cross-section in order to reflect a delta to theinterrogator to develop a communication link. Here, the battery is thesource of the tag's operational power for optional circuitry. Finally,in the active RF tag, a transmitter is used to create its own radiofrequency energy powered by the battery.

The range of communication for such tags varies according to thetransmission power of the interrogator 12 and the RF tag 14.Battery-powered tags operating at 2,450 MHz have traditionally beenlimited to less than ten meters in range. However, devices withsufficient power can reach up to 200 meters in range, depending on thefrequency and environmental characteristics.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the response signal 22 isused to send position information from a unique type of RF tag knownherein as a position tag 30. The position tag 30 is configured tocontain information regarding one or more positions, which can beprogrammed into and retrieved from the position tag through use of RFsignals. The position information could be stored in a memory of theposition tag 30. Alternatively, a pointer in the position tag 30 couldpoint to a position-related reference. With some implementations, theposition tag 30 contains additional information, also referred to hereinas position information. Position information for the position tag 30could also include information associated with a position, such as, timeof day that a position was achieved, and characteristics of the taggedsubject, such as type (vehicle, robot, individual, etc.), owneridentification, origination, destination, intended recipient, associatedcost, product constituents, warranty information, associated purchaser,location of sale, seller identification, recycling information,instructor identification, associated warnings, storage information, anddestruction instructions.

As shown in FIG. 2, the position tag 30 includes a position tag antenna32 to receive position information request signals 34, to receiveposition information programming control signals 36, and to sendrequested position information 38. Multiple antennas can be used in someimplementations as the tag antenna 32. A receiver 40 is communicativelylinked to the position tag antenna 32 and a control circuit 42 toprocess the position information request signals 34, to respond with therequested position information 38 retrieved from a memory 44, and toprocess the position information programming control signals 36 to storeposition information into the memory 44. The receiver 40 is configuredto enable the position tag 30 to return the requested positioninformation 38 as a radio signal shown in FIG. 2. Some implementationsinclude the functions of the control circuit 42 either being performedby the receiver 40, the memory 44, or both.

In some implementations, a portable programmer 50 is used to programposition information into the position tags 30. Some implementations ofthe portable programmer 50 include programming one position (1P)position tags 52 having the memory 44 sufficiently sized to containinformation regarding one position (1P) such as shown in FIG. 3. Theportable programmer 50 includes a tag program transmitter 54 that iscoupled to a transmitting antenna 56 to transmit the positioninformation programming control signals 36 to the position tags 30.

Position information to be programmed into one of the position tags 30is inputted to the portable programmer 50 and stored, such as in the tagprogrammer 54. In one embodiment, broadcast position information 58 isreceived by the portable programmer from an external positioning system(EPS) 60 through a receiving antenna 62 and an EPS receiver 64. TheGlobal Positioning System (GPS) managed by the Department of Defense,with its satellite-based broadcast of position information, is oneexample of the external positioning system 60. Other examples of theexternal positioning system 60 include systems broadcasting otherposition information such as time and position coordinate informationassociated with one or more architectural structures, geographicalpoints of interest, or geological structures. Alternatively, a localinput 66, such as a keypad or other input device, could be used tomanually input position information into the portable programmer 50.Although the portable programmer 50 is shown in FIG. 3 to include boththe EPS receiver 64 and the local input 66, some implementations of theportable programmer only have one way of inputting position informationinto the portable programmer. Other implementations of the portableprogrammer 50 can include use of a single antenna or multiple antennasthat are functionally equivalent to the combined functions of thetransmitting antenna 56 and the receiving antenna 62. Someimplementations of the portable programmer 50 also include a control 68that coordinates input of position information into, and transmission ofposition information from, the portable programmer.

In some implementations, such as shown in FIG. 4, a stationaryprogrammer 70 is used to program position information into the positiontags 30. Some implementations of the stationary programmer 50 includeprogramming multi-position (MP) position tags 72 having the memory 44sufficiently sized to contain information regarding more than oneposition. The stationary programmer 70 includes a tag programtransmitter 74 that is coupled to a transmitting antenna 76 to transmitthe position information programming control signals 36 to the positiontags 30.

Position information to be programmed into one of the position tags 30can be inputted to the stationary programmer 70 via several methods,including use of the broadcast position information 58 received by theportable programmer 50 from the external positioning system (EPS) 60.The portable programmer 50 transmits a position information signal 78containing the broadcast position information 58 to the stationaryprogrammer 70. The position information signal 78 is received by areceiving antenna 80 and processed by a receiver 82 coupled to thereceiving antenna. The receiver 82 could also be configured similarly asthe EPS receiver 64 of the portable programmer 50 to directly receivethe broadcast position information 58, but this may increase unit costof the stationary programmer 70 to possibly impact deployment of largenumbers of the stationary programmer.

Alternatively, a local input 84, such as a keypad or other input device,could be used to manually input position information into the stationaryprogrammer 70. Although the stationary programmer 70 is shown in FIG. 4to include both the receiver 82 and the local input 84, someimplementations of the stationary programmer only have one way ofinputting position information into the stationary programmer. Otherembodiments may have an adapter to receive a detachable input device.The stationary programmer 70 may include use of a single antenna ormultiple antennas that are functionally equivalent to the combinedfunctions of the transmitting antenna 76 and the receiving antenna 80.Some implementations of the stationary programmer 70 also include acontrol 86 that coordinates input of position information into andtransmission of position information from the stationary programmer.

An exemplary use of the portable programmer 50 in conjunction with the1P position tags 52 for position labeling of collection samples is shownin FIG. 5. In this example, the 1P position tags 52 are affixed tosamples 88 found in a collection site 90. The portable programmer 50 isthen used to program each of the 1P position tags 52 to indicate eitherabsolute or relative position of each of the samples 88 with respect totheir original positions at the collection site 90. The samples are thenmoved, indicated by arrow 92, to a sample repository 94 to be furtherstudied. Additional study of the samples 88 can be aided by theprogrammed 1P position tags 52 since they contain either the relative orabsolute original position of the samples in the collection site 90. Forinstance, it is possible that the collection site 90 could be eitherphysically or virtually reconstructed through use of the positioninformation contained within the 1P position tags 52 identifyingrepositioning of the collected samples 88. Examples of the collectionsite 90 include, but are not limited to, archeological sites,construction sites, excavation sites, disaster sites, battlefields,accident sites, crime scenes, arson sites, geological sites, and anyother site or other collection in which the original relative orabsolute position of collected samples of the collection site 90 is ofinterest.

Another exemplary use of the portable programmer 50 in conjunction withthe 1P position tags 52 for position guidance of subjects such asrobots, individuals, or vehicles is shown in FIG. 6. The 1P positiontags 52 are positioned in an area 96, such as an interior area of abuilding. In this example, the area 96 also includes an obstacle 98. The1P position tags 52 are shown in FIG. 6 to have a substantially regularspacing order; however, in other implementations, spacing of the 1Pposition tags can be of an irregular nature. The 1P position tags 52 canalso include position information regarding particular attributes of thearea 96 with respect to the particular positions of the 1P positiontags. For instance, the 1P position tags 52 shown as being positioned inor near the corners of the obstacle 98 could contain informationidentifying the obstacle. Other position information could include thatgenerally discussed above regarding additional information includinginformation related to the position identified by one of the 1P positiontags 52, related to a purpose for the area 96, and related to a purposefor the subject. For instance, if the area 96 was a warehouse forstoring items to be later gathered and the subject was a gatherer, oneor more of the 1P position tags 52 could contain identificationinformation related to the type of items located near the position ofthe 1P position tag. Alternatively, additional information could berelated to particular positions identified by the 1P position tags 52through a database on board or separate from the subject.

Once the 1P position tags 52 are properly positioned in stationarylocations in the area 96, the portable programmer 50 is used to programeach of the 1P position tags with their respective positions, eitherabsolute or relative, with respect to the area. After transitioning froman initialization phase to an operation phase, as indicated by an arrow100, a subject, such as a robot 102, using a unique one of theinterrogators 12 configured to request and receive position informationfrom the 1P position tags 52, shown hidden in the operation phase ofFIG. 6, is used to navigate a path 104. The interrogator 12 and the 1Ptags 52 are so chosen and positionally oriented regarding strength ofsignals transmitted and received such that the subject receives positioninformation from the 1P position tags appropriate to the position of thesubject as it receives the position information. Depending upon theimplementations and subject involved, the path 104 can be predeterminedor can be determined in real time. Position guidance based upon positioninformation obtained from the 1P position tags 52 could include rangeand bearing.

Other examples of the area 96 include, but are not limited to,warehouses, factory floors, jogging or hiking trails, bicycle paths,shopping malls, office parks, airports, rail stations, bus stations,tourist attractions, amusement parks, local roadways, state andinterstate highways and freeways, fairs, theaters, exhibit halls, sportsstadiums, museums, art galleries, farms, drilling or mining sites,construction sites, battlefields, ocean liners, cargo ships, oiltankers, airplanes, naval vessels, drilling rigs, elevators, racetracks,golf courses, bodies of water including harbors, lakes, docking areas,ship canals, railyards, airplane runways, schools, universities,libraries, hospitals, grocery stores, pharmacies, department stores,tool houses, wrecking yards, spacecraft, and any other area in whichposition guidance of a subject is of interest.

An exemplary use of a group of the stationary programmers 70 inconjunction with one of the MP position tags 72 affixed to a movingsubject 106, such as a robot, an individual, or a vehicle, for routerecordation of the moving subject 106 is shown in FIG. 7. Initially,each of the stationary programmers 70 are programmed with informationregarding their positions. In implementations, the stationaryprogrammers 70 are positioned along a path 108 to be taken by the movingsubject 106 to allow the MP position tag 72 of the moving subject toreceive the position information programming control signal 36 from eachstationary programmer as the moving subject passes within the vicinityof each stationary programmer.

After completing the path 108, the MP position tag 72 of the movingsubject 106 contains position information for each of the stationaryprogrammers 70 found along the path. This position information can thenbe requested and received by a special interrogator 12 configured totransmit the position information request signals 34 to the MP positiontag 72 of the moving subject 106 and to receive the requested positioninformation 38 from the MP position tag of the moving subject. In thisexample, the requested position information 38 would include for each ofthe stationary programmers 70 a fixed position near the stationaryprogrammer and its absolute or relative position and the relative orabsolute times that the moving subject 106 passed by the fixed position.

FIG. 8 shows exemplary use of a network of branch nodes connectedtogether by paths having subject routers 110 each located at one of thebranch nodes of the network and containing one of the interrogators 12.Each of the interrogators 12 are configured to request and receiveposition information for directing transit of a subject 112 having anaffixed addressed tag 114. As the subject 112 passes one of the subjectrouters 110, the subject router sends the position information requestsignal 134 to the addressed tag 114. In turn, the addressed tag 114 ofthe subject 112 sends the requested position information 38 back to therequesting subject router 110. The position information contained by theaddressed tag 114 includes the destination address of the associatedsubject 112. The destination address can take many forms includingstreet address and GPS coordinates or other address forms orcoordinates. Upon receipt of the destination address contained withinthe position information of the addressed tag 114, the subject router110 performs any adjustments necessary to properly direct the subject112 on to the next subject router to finally allow the subject to arriveat its final destination identified by the position information receivedfrom the addressed tag 114. Principles of operations research is used insome implementations for directing the subject 112. Otherimplementations of the addressed tag 114 need not use the subjectrouters 110. For instance, another implementation of the addressed tag114 could involve subjects being sorted by their destination addressesas indicated by their addressed tags.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specificembodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes ofillustration, various modifications may be made without deviating fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is notlimited except as by the appended claims and the equivalents thereof.

1. A position tag for communication with a GPS enabled programmercomprising: a memory configured to store position information; at leastone radio frequency antenna; and a receiver circuit coupled to the atleast one radio frequency antenna, the receiver configured to receiveradio frequency control signals and radio frequency position requestsignals via the at least one radio frequency antenna from the GPSenabled programmer, and to send radio frequency signals containingposition information about a fixed position via the at least one radiofrequency antenna responsive to the position request signals, the memoryconfigured to store position information about the fixed position inresponse to the control signals and to recall position information inresponse to the position request signals.
 2. The position tag of claim 1wherein the position information stored by the memory includes positioncoordinates associated with the fixed position of the position tag. 3.The position tag of claim 1 wherein the position information stored bythe memory includes identification of an intended recipient.
 4. Theposition tag of claim 1 wherein the position information stored by thememory includes a timestamp associated with a time when the positioninformation was stored in the memory.
 5. The position tag of claim 1wherein the position information stored by the memory includes positioncoordinates based upon an external positioning system.
 6. The positiontag of claim 1 wherein the position information stored by the memoryincludes position coordinates associated with a building.
 7. Theposition tag of claim 1 wherein the position information stored by thememory includes position coordinates associated with a sample collectionsite.
 8. The position tag of claim 1 wherein the position informationstored by the memory includes position coordinates of multiple positionsachieved by a subject affixed to the position tag during a period oftime when the subject traversed a route.
 9. The position tag of claim 1wherein the memory is sized sufficient for storage of informationregarding one position.
 10. The position tag of claim 1 wherein theposition information stored by the memory includes a destination addressfor a subject affixed to the position tag.
 11. The position tag of claim1 wherein the memory stores position information by using one or morepointers to point to position references.
 12. The position tag of claim1 wherein the memory stores position information by storing absoluteposition references.
 13. The position tag of claim 1, further comprisinga control coupled to the memory and the receiver, the control configuredto instruct the memory to store position information in response to thecontrol signals and to recall position information in response to theposition request signals.
 14. The position tag of claim 1 wherein theposition information stored by the memory includes position coordinatesbroadcast by the United States Department of Defense managed GlobalPositioning System (GPS).
 15. A position tag programmer for use with atleast one remote position tag, comprising: at least one radio frequencyantenna; a receiver configured to receive position information radiosignals regarding the position of the remote position tag from anexternal position reference system via the at least one radio frequencyantenna; and a tag program transmitter coupled to the receiver andconfigured to transmit radio frequency position information controlsignals via the at least one radio frequency antenna to the remoteposition tag for storage in the position tag of the position informationreceived from the external position reference system.
 16. The positiontag programmer of claim 15 wherein the receiver is configured to receiveposition information radio signals from the United States Department ofDefense managed Global Positioning System (GPS) as the external positionreference system.
 17. The position tag programmer of claim 15 whereinthe tag programmer transmitter is further configured to transmitposition information control signals via the at least one radiofrequency antenna to a second position tag programmer for storage in thesecond position tag programmer of the position information received fromthe external position reference system.
 18. The position tag programmerof claim 15, further comprising a local input configured to providemanual input of position information.
 19. The position tag programmer ofclaim 15, further comprising a battery to provide electrical power tocomponents of the position tag programmer including the receiver and thetag program transmitter.
 20. The position tag programmer of claim 15wherein the tag program transmitter is further configured to store theposition information received from the external position referencesystem.
 21. The position tag programmer of claim 15, further comprising:an adapter configured to removably couple to an input device, the inputdevice configured to input position information to the position tagprogrammer.
 22. The position tag programmer of claim 21 wherein theadapter is configured to removably couple to a keypad as the inputdevice.
 23. The position tag programmer of claim 21 wherein the adapteris configured to removably couple to a receiver as the input device, thereceiver configured to receive position information radio signals froman external position reference system.
 24. The position tag programmerof claim 15, further comprising a memory configured to store positioninformation regarding multiple positions and associated timestamps fromthe position tag with respect to a route recordation by the position tagof a traveling subject affixed to the position tag.
 25. A method ofproviding position guidance to a subject with respect to an area, themethod comprising: dispersing position tags to fixed locations in thearea; receiving at a remote programmer position information associatedwith each fixed location in the area; programming each position tag tostore the received position information associated with its fixedlocation by transmitting the position information via radio frequencysignals to each position tag from the programmer; and directing movementof the subject within the area based upon receiving position informationstored in the positions tags dispersed to the fixed locations within thearea.
 26. The method of claim 25, further comprising sending informationrequest signals from points of origination, the signals configured to bereceived by a dispersed position tag when the position tag is locatedwithin a predetermined maximum distance from the points of origination.27. The method of claim 25 wherein the programming further includes thereceived position information having position coordinates relative toother fixed positions within the area.
 28. The method of claim 25wherein directing movement of the subject within the area furtherincludes providing instructions intelligible to a human.
 29. The methodof claim 25 wherein directing movement of the subject within the areafurther includes providing instructions intelligible to a robot.
 30. Themethod of claim 25 wherein directing movement of the subject within thearea further includes providing instructions intelligible to a vehicle.31. The method of claim 25 wherein receiving further includes receivingposition information from the United States Department of Defensemanaged Global Positioning System (GPS).
 32. A method of recordingtravel by a subject along a route, the method comprising: dispersingposition tag programmers to locations along the route; programming eachof the dispersed position tag programmers to store local positioninformation related to the location of the dispersed position tagprogrammer; affixing a position tag to the subject, the position tagconfigured to store position information related to a plurality ofpositions; programming the position tag to store the local positioninformation stored in each of the position tag programmers into theposition tag as the position tag passes within range of the position tagprogrammer; and programming the position tag using each of the dispersedposition tag programmers to store a timestamp within the position tagassociated with the time that the position tag passed within range ofthe position tag programmer.
 33. The method of claim 32, furthercomprising reading the local position information and timestamps storedin the position tag after the subject has completed travel of at least aportion of the route.
 34. The method of claim 32 wherein programmingeach of the dispersed position tag programmers further includes localposition information being based upon position coordinates relative toother positions along the route.
 35. The method of claim 32 whereinprogramming each of the dispersed position tag programmers furtherincludes local position information being based upon positioninformation from the United States Department of Defense managed GlobalPositioning System (GPS).
 36. A system for subject position information,the system comprising: a remote position tag including: a memoryconfigured to store position information; at least one radio frequencyantenna; and a receiver circuit coupled to the at least one radiofrequency antenna, the receiver configured to receive radio frequencycontrol signals and radio frequency position request signals via the atleast one radio frequency antenna, and to send radio frequency signalscontaining position information about a fixed position via the at leastone radio frequency antenna responsive to due position request signals,the memory configured to store position information about the fixedposition in response to the control signals and to recall positioninformation in response to the position request signals; and a positiontag programmer including: at least one radio frequency antenna; areceiver configured to receive position information radio signals aboutthe position of the remote position tag from an external positionreference system via the at least one radio frequency antenna; and a tagprogram transmitter coupled to the receiver and configured to transmitradio frequency position information control signals via the at leastone radio frequency antenna to the remote position tag for storage inthe remote position tag of the position information received from theexternal position reference system.
 37. The system for subject positioninformation of claim 36 wherein the position tag programmer furthercomprises: an adapter configured to removably couple to an input device,the input device configured to input position information to theposition tag programmer.